@rasofia
Let me see if I have the numbers right:
after 4 years at UT, you will have to repay about $60,000 in loans. Deduct the one-year Val tuition scholarship, which would be what, $10K?
that leaves roughly $50K out of pocket after 4 years, give or take a couple thousand, right?
now the total 4-year out-of-pocket for Rice looks like about $40K.
so four years at UT will cost you about $10K more.
both UT and Rice have highly respected Engineering programs.
Rice is considered a top-20 school, while UT is one of the very top publics / flagships.
is being around your friends and closer to your family worth shelling out $10K extra dollars? it will be enough of a hassle paying off the $40K, and I think in the long run you will be happier paying off your college costs sooner.
i think you are taking a really emotional approach to this and letting your heart do the thinking. to me the rational decision would be Rice. I think you are getting nervous thinking about being away from your social support network, and this is really clouding your decision, but expanding your horizons is part of the college experience.
i don’t see why you wouldn’t make new friends at Rice. it consistently ranks extremely high in Happiest Students lists.
but if you don’t mind burdening yourself with $10K extra debt, then Go Longhorns.